Thegraphio oo



4 sheet-s sbeet 1.

T. 000K. Press for Forming Concrete Paving and Building Blocks.

- Patented April 13, 1875.

' WITNESSES THE GRAPHIC CO.PHOT0 .LITH.39 &-4 1 PARK PLACE. N.Y.

4 Sheets--Sheet 2 T. cook. Press for Forming C-oncret Paving andBuilding Blocks.

No 161 861 I PatentedApri|13,1 87 5.

A f y Y xQ 01 lll 'i !I$ I W nil W F N N 111' Q 1* TH 1' I1 WITNESSESINVENTOR M4,, aitfim r THE GRAP H IG CO.PHOTO.-LITH.39&4I PARK PLACE,N.Y.

4Sheets--Sheet3.

4 I T. COOK. Press for Forming- Concretefaving and Building Blocks. N0.]6] 867 Patented April 13,1875.

WITNESSES Y IJV'VEJVTOR SWSWMS THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOTOrLlTH.39&4I PARKPLAOE,N.Y.

4Sheets--Sheet4. T. 600K.

Patented April is, 1875.

WITNESSES Press for Formihg Concrete Paving and Building Blocks.

Nol 161,867,

THOMAS COOK, OF SING SING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO J. R. DOS PASSOS ANDZAOHARIAH E. SIMMONS, OF NEW YORK CITY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRESSES FOR FORMING CONCRETE PAVING AND BUILDING BLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 61,86'i, dated April13, 1875; application filed February 24, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS COOK, of Sing Sing, in the county ofWestchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new andlmproved Press for forming Concrete and other Paving and Building Blocks5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, Sheet1, is a side elevation of the press. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a longitudinalsection of the same. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a topplan view. Fig. 4, Sheet4, is a transverse vertical section, taken in the plane of the line 00:0, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5, Sheet 4, is a similar section, taken in theplane of the line y y, Fig. 2; and Fig. 6, Sheet 4., is a detached viewof one of the cam-plates.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote thesame parts.

My invention relates to that class of presses for the formation ofpaving and other blocks in which a plunger and platen are mounted upontwo parallel rods or bars, and operated by a toggle-joint to press thematerial between them within an intermittingly-rotating mold wheel orrim. It has for its object to improve the operation and efliciency ofsuch presses, and to that end consists, first, in the method ofoperating the toggle-joint from the countershaft of the press, to movethe platen and plunger within the mold-wheel. It also consists in themeans employed for imparting an intermitting rotation to the mold-wheel,so as to successively present the molds for the action of the feedingdevices, the plunger, and the discharger, the wheel remaining at restduring the feeding, pressing, and discharging operations. It alsoconsists in the mode of operating the discharger or follower from thecounter-shaft, to discharge the pressed blocks outward from the wheelupon the side opposite the pressing mechanism. It also consistsinwithdrawing the discharger from the molds by the positive action of acam and bellcrank lever, to prevent the follower from adhering to thefaces of the molds. It also consists in a release motion to relieve thepressure of the plunger and platen, and prevent the press from breakingor becoming strained when the movements of the plunger and platen arevaried by a difference in the size of the blocks or the presence of anyunyielding substance therein. It also consists in producing the releasemotion by a weighted lever connecting the toggle-joint with a link uponthe countershaft. It also consists in adapting the weight for adjustmentto regulate the pressure of the plunger and platen. It also consists insuspending the weighted lev'er from the togglejoint by means of a rod,in such a manner as to permit the lever to rise and fall freely when thepress is operated. It also consists in an elastic cushion applied to thelower end of the suspending-rod, for the purpose of absorbing the shockof the lever in falling. It also consists in the employment of twoI'ollers provided with radially-reciprocatin g blades, for feeding thematerial into the mold-wheel. It also consists in adjusting the point ofprojection and retraction of the feeding-blades with respect to thespace between the feed-rollers, for the purpose of regulating the forceof the feed into the mold-wheel. It also consistsin the construct-ion ofthe feed-hopper. It also consists in imparting an intermit-ting rotarymotion to the feed-rollers, for the purpose of feeding the material whenthe molds are open to the hopper, and to prevent the material from beingpressed down when the wheel is in motion. It also consists in a risingand falling plate arranged to receive the pressed blocks from the moldsand carry them down to the cooling-tank and blockcarriers, forthe'purpose of protecting the edges and corners of the blocks frominjury. it also consists in a carrier having an intermittingreciprocating movement, to receive and carry 01f the pressed blocks fromthe rising and falling plate, and at the same time expose them to acooling and drying medium. Lastly, my invention consists in running themold -wheel within a reservoir of cold water, for the purpose of coolingthe molds, -as well as the pressed blocks contained therein, so that thelatter may be discharged without adhering to the molds.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the cast-iron frame-work of thepress, formed with a tank or reservoir, B, and O is the mold rim pawls TT.

or wheel placed within the reservoir, so as to rest in an uprightposition upon the flanged rollers D D, arranged therein. The rollers arespread apart sufficiently upon their shafts to receiwe the mold-wheelbetween the flanges and prevent it from lateral displacement. Thismethod of supporting the mold-wheel adapts it for easy removal from andapplication to the frame, as circumstances require. E E are the paralleltension rods or bars, arranged in ahorizontal position upon each side ofthe machine, so as to slide freely through the front uprights F F of theframe. Their outer ends are connected by a cross-head, G, and theirinner ends by a cross-head, H, which extends through the mold-wheel andis provided with a central plunger, 1, to enter the moldsfrom the innerside. J is the pressing-platen, arranged to slide in guides J 2 oftheframe, outside of the mold-wheel, and connected to the outer cross-headG by the toggle-joint K, which is arranged to incline downward betweenthe bars. L is the main driving-shaft, having its bearings in the frontup right F of the frame, and geared by the pinion M and wheel N to asteel counter-shaft, 0, having its bearings in the frame beneath thetoggle-joint. The counter-shaft is formed with a central crank, which isconnected to the toggle bya link, P, and an inclined weighted lever, Q,in the following manner: The upper end of the weighted lever extends beheath the toggle, and is pivoted between two wings, R, formed upon thefront arm thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the linkembraces the crank of the counter-shaft, and its upper end is pivotedwithin a recess formed in the inclined lever. The pivot of the link isvertically in line with the joint of the toggle, while the pivot of thelever is in rear of or out of line with such joint, as clearly shown inFig. 2. When the machine is in operation. the throw of the crank-shaftreciprocates the link vertically to alternately straighten and depressthe toggle-joint to move the pressing-plunger. The weighted lever andlink, together with their connections, form the releasingmechanismpreviously referred to, and whose operation I will presently describe. Sis a cross rock-shaft, extending through the center of the mold-wheel,and having its bearings in the frame of the press. It is provided with afixed central arm, the ends of which carry the notched moving dogs orThese dogs occupy an inclined position, and their notched points engagewith shoulders U U, formed along the edges of the mold-wheel, to rotatethe latter intermittingly when the rock-shaft is operated. This iseffected by connecting the lower arm of a three-armed spider, V, on therock-shaft with the gear-wheel N on the counter-shaft by means of asuitable rod, as shown in Fig. 1. NY W are the feed rollers or wheels,arranged a short distance apart above the mold-wheel, and having theirhearings in the frame or hopper X. The space between the rollers, to-

gether with the inner parallel sides Y of the hopper, form a throat forthe passage of the material from the hopper to the molds of themold-wheel. Z Z represent a series of radial blades, let into thefeed-rollers parallel to each other, and provided with trunnions upontheir ends, which enter cam-grooves formed in the proximate faces ofplates A A These plates are cast with suitable hubs, which enter thesides of the hopper or frame to form journal-boxes for the rollershafts.When the wheels are rotated the cam-grooves and trunnions project theteed-blades to feed down the material into the mold-wheel, and retractthem to clear the edges of the hopper-sides Y.

B B are ratchet-wheels, keyed to the rollershafts outside the hopper andO U are pawl arms, mounted loosely upon the same shafts outside theratchet-wheels, and connected by rods D with the upper arms of thespider V. E are weighted pawls, pivoted to the outer ends of thepawl-arms, so as to engage wlth the ratchet-wheels, and move themintermlttingly when the rock-shaft is opera-ted. The cam plates areformed with radial grooves l at suitable points, to permit theapplication and removal of the feed-blades; and they are also madeadjustable in their bearings, to regulate or change the points at whichthe blades shall be projected and withdrawn.

The paving-blocks contain a large percentage of asphalt, which must beworked in a heated state; but in this condition it is exceedingly toughand sticky, and is liable to choke the hopper and stop the feed of thematerial. The feed-blades prevent this by forein g the material downthrough the hopper into the molds, and are themselves cleaned of thegummy substance by being withdrawn into the rollers. The faces of therollers and ends of the blades are cleaned by the upper edges of thehopper-sides Y, which are sharpened for this purpose. Thus the materialis properly fed, and the feeding mechanism cleaned automatically. Thefeed is varied in propor tion to the richness of the material by adjusting the cam-groove plates, as above described.

G is the discharger or follower, arranged transversely through themold-wheel, upon that side of the rock-shaft opposite the plunger, so asto slide freely upon two parallel guide-rods, 11, secured to theuprights l l of the frame. J 1 J 1 are two parallel rods, connecting thefollower-head outside the guide-rods with double bell-crank levers K K,pivoted to the pressframe near the counter-shaft. These bellcrank leversare thrown up, to move the follower through the mold-wheel indischarging a pressed block, by means of cams L L, mounted upon thecounter-shaft, as shown in Fig. 1. One of the double bell-crank leversis provided with an additional arm, as shown in Fig. 2, extending downto or below the axis of the counter-shaft, to receive the action of oneof the cams L and draw back the follower. Friction-rollers M M arepivoted to the bellcrank levers, to reduce the friction of the cams.

By employing the double bell-crank levers and cams, the discharger isoperated positively in both directions, and all danger of accident fromirregular or uncertain movements of the parts prevented.

The operation of the machine thus far described is as follows: Powerbeing applied to the driving-shaft, the material to be pressed intoblocks is fed into the molds, as hereinbefore described, so as to restupon the shield N, which is arranged within the upper part of themold-wheel, to prevent the material from falling through into theinterior. As the countershaft revolves, the gear-wheel N and itsconnecting devices operate the rock-shaft, and cause the pawls T T torotate the mold-wheel the distance of one mold. This carries the filledmold in line with the pressing-phinger, when the rock-shaft oscillatesin the opposite direction and the mold-wheel ceases to move. The crankof the countershaft then throws up the link P, which straightens thetoggle-joint and moves the plunger horizontally into the filled mold.This movement also holds the platen in position at the face of thewheel, to receive the pressure of the plunger against the block. Theblock therefore sustains all the horizontal pressure of the plunger andplaten, and relieves the moldwheel of diametrical strain.

As the power of the toggle-joint is exerted outward against thecross-heads secured to the parallel bars, the tensile strength of thelatter sustains the entire force of the pressure upon the blocks.

The tension-rods are made large and strong enough to resist the force ofthe lever, and, as the latter possesses great power, any mediuminterposed between the plunger and platen is subjected to enormouspressure.

When the counter-shaft is further rotated, the link P pulls down thetoggle-lever with a positive action, and retracts the plunger from themold, so that the moldwheel may be again rotated the requisite distanceby the moving pawls to present the succeeding filled mold to the actionof the plunger.

If the block ui-idergoing pressure is larger than the usual orpredetermined size, or contains a hard unyielding substance, themovements of the plunger and toggle-joint will be stopped beforereaching the limit of their throw, leaving the toggle bent down, andthereby shortening the distance between such joint and the crank-shaft.This would result in breaking the press but for the release motionbefore named, which operates to throw up the weighted lever and relievethe strain upon the toggle and link.

N is a weight, adapted for adjustment upon the lever Q by means of theset-crews O, for the purpose of regulating the pressure of the plungerand platen-or, in other words, to determine the amount of pressureexerted by the plunger and platen before being released by the liftingof the lever. P is a rod, pivoted to the outer joint of the toggle, andextending down through the weighted lever, be-

neath which it is provided with an india-rubher or other elasticcushion, Q, which takes up the shock of the lever in falling, andprevents it from jarring or breaking the machine.

When, in the operation of the machine, the plunger moves into themold-wheel, the cams on the counter-shaft throw forward the bellcranklevers K and connecting-rods J, to move the discharger into the moldopposite the plunger and discharge its contents outward through thewheel. As the plunger is withdrawn from the mold, the discharger isretracted by the action of one of the cams L upon the extended arm ofone of the bellcrank levers, as hereinbefore described.

Instead of employing one of the cams L for this purpose, an additionalcam 011 the counter-shaft may be used, if desired.

The several operations of filling the molds, compressing the blocks, anddischarging them from the molds, are performed simultaneously, themold-wheel being turned by the moving pawls to present the molds firstto the feeding devices, next to the pressing-plunger, and, lastly, tothe action of the discharger.

The compressed blocks discharged from the mold-wheel pass out upon acarrying-plate, R, mounted upon vertical guide-rods T, in rear of themold-wheel, and pivoted by short links U to the inner ends of parallelarms V. The outer ends of these arms are pivoted to the frame of thepress, or to projections therefrom, and their centers carryfriction-rollers W. X is a cross-shaft, having its hearings in the frameof the press beneath the arms V, and receiving its motion from the maindriving-shaft of the machine through the medium of the shalting Y andbeveled gearing Z, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The carrying-plate israised on the guide-rods T to a level with the bottom of the mold fromwhich a pressed block is to be discharged by means of cams A on thecross-shaft, which, when the shaft revolves, come in contact with thefrictionrollers W, and so lift the carrying-plate. The gravity of thelatter, together with the weight of the pressed block, causes theconnecting-arms to lower the plate as the cross-shaft continues torevolve, and deposit the block upon a horizontal carrier, B arrangedupon a central crank of the cross-shaft, and a corresponding crank on asecond cross-shaft, 0 also mounted in the frame. Reversed cranks arealso formed in the two cross-shafts upon each side the central cranks,which are connected with horizontal carriers D D as shown in Fig. 3. Therotation of the cross-shafts raises and lowers the several carriers,causing them to reciprocate in line with the mold-wheel, while theposition of the cranks causes the central carrier B to raise while theouter carriers D D are both falling, and vice versa. By this means thepressed blocks are moved along intermittingly so that they may beexposed to a cooling or drying medium for a considerable time beforebeing removed from the carriers. The gradual lowering of the pressedblocks from the mold-wheel to the carrier prevents them from becomingbroken or misshapen, which would be the case if they were allowed todrop suddenly before being cooled or hardened. The carrier as well themold-wheel moves in reservoirs of cold water, for the purpose of coolingthe blocks and molds. A stream of water is also allowed to flow into thebody of the plunger and platen, which are made hollow for the purpose,so that their faces may be kept cool, and therefore prevented fromadhering to the face of the blocks subjected to their action. The moldsmay also be cooled by streams of water, if preferred.

I claim as my invention- 1. The weighted lever and link, combined withthe crank-shaft and toggle-joint, to operate the platen and plunger uponthe parallel tension-rods E E, substantially as described, for thepurpose specified.

2. The moving pawls upon the rock-shaft S, adapted to move themold-wheel intermittingl y by means of an oscillating spider, V,operated from the main driving'shaft of the press, substantially asdescribed.

3. The discharger or follower operated from the counter-shalt throughthe medium of con- Lecting-arms J, double bell-crank levers K, and camsL, substantially as described.

4. The discharger or follower adapted to be withdrawn from the moldswith a positive action by means of a cam on the counter-shaft, combinedwith an arm on one of the bell-crank levers, substantially as described.

5. The release-lever Q, to relieve the pressure of the plunger andplaten, and prevent the press from breaking when the movements of theplunger and platen are varied by a dif- Terence in the size of theblocks or the presence of any unyielding substance therein,substantially as described.

6. The release motion produced by the weighted lever andconnecting-link, pivoted to each other, and connected to thetoggle-joint and countershait, substantially as described.

7. The weight upon the lifting-lever adapted for adjustment to regulatethepressure of the plunger and platen, substantially as described. T S.The weighted lever, suspended from the toggle-joint by means of the rod1?, substantially as described.

9. The elastic cushion, in combination with the suspending-rod andreleasing-lever, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

10. The two feed rollers or wheels, provided with radially-reciprocating blades for feeding the material in to the mold-wheel, substantially asdescribed.

11. The feed-blades, having their points of projection and retractionadjustable with re spect to the space between the teed-rollers, for thepurpose of regulating the force of the feed into the molds,substantially as described.

12. The arrangement of the grooved cams for separately retracting thefeed-blades completely within the feed-rollers, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose specified.

13. The open-ended feed-hopper X, constructed with two parallel faces, YY, having sharpened upper edges extending up between the twofeed-rollers, substantially as described, for the purposes specified.

14. The feed-rollers, having an intermittent rotation toward each other,substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

15. The combination of the grooved camplates with the feed-rollers andreciprocating blades, substantially as described, for the purposespecified.

16. The grooved cam-plates, provided with radial slots for theapplication and removal of the feed-blades, substantially as described.

17. The spider V upon the rock-shaft, combined with the countershaft andratchetwheels of the feed-rollers, by the means substantially asdescribed, for the purposes specified.

18. The carrying-plate It, adapted to receive the pressed blocks fromthe mold-wheel, and deposit them upon a reciprocating carrier in rear ofthe mold-wheel, substantially as described.

19. The feed-plate B, operated by the pivoted connecting-arms V and thecams A from the crossshaft X, substantially as described.

20. The carrying-plate 1t, guided in its vertical movements by theupright rods T, sub-' stantially as described.

21. The carrier, composed of three reciprocating parts, B 1) D operatingas described, to feed the pressed blocks intermittingly, substantiallyas described.

22. The combination, with the mold-wheel, of the feeding rollers andblades, the plunger and platen, the discharger, the dropping-plate, andthe carrier, substantially as described, for the purposes specified.

23. The mold wheel and carrier adapted to rotate within reservoirs ofwater, substantially as described, for the. purposes specified.

24. The pressing plunger and platen, adapted to receive a stream ofwater within them, to prevent their pressing-face from becoming heated,substantially as described.

THOS. COOK.

Witnesses:

WM. H. MINNIX, M. OHURcn.

